Look Better

Our Favorites

The Best RC Planes

The Six Best RC Planes For Rookie Pilots And Frequent Fliers

PrintMatt Cabral

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

Piloting a remote-control plane used to be a pricey proposition. Between the high cost of the technology and the likelihood of your investment literally crashing and burning, the hobby was typically reserved for enthusiasts who had the time, money, and patience it took to go from rookie recruit to top gun.

The recent popularity and proliferation of drones, however, has seen the comparatively “classic” hobby become more affordable, and accessible to casual fans. On top of the barrier to entry being much easier on the piggy bank, the latest tech has also significantly smoothed the previously steep learning curve with intuitive control options and beginner-friendly features.

Most of today's tiny planes also contain “panic” buttons that will auto-correct a doomed flight path, as well as SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology to improve stability and handling. Additionally, many of the latest models feature light, sturdy constructions capable of surviving a harsh landing, or outright crash, without a scratch.

Whether you're a frequent flier or newcomer looking to earn your pilot's wings, there's no better time to take to the skies with an RC plane. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of the six best models currently on the market. See you on the runway!

HobbyZone Sport Cub S RTF RC Airplane

Best For:Beginners Looking To Surf The Skies For The First Time

The perfect RC plane for beginners, the HobbyZone Sport Cub S is affordable, doesn't require any assembly, and is incredibly easy to fly. This slick machine includes some of the aforementioned safety-focused features, such as an auto-leveling panic button and SAFE tech, but is durable enough to survive a harsh impact if things do happen to go south.

Despite including a number of novice-friendly features, the HobbyZone Sport Cub S will also allow you to let loose among the clouds once you're comfortable behind the controls. In fact, its intuitive, 4-channel control — complete with working rudder, throttle, elevator, and aileron -- can easily pull off loops, barrel rolls, and other moves that would make the Red Baron blush.

HobbyZone Super Cub S RTF RC Airplane

Best For: Fliers Of All Stripes

While a bit pricier than its little brother above, the HobbyZone Super Cub S is literally bigger and better in a number of ways. In addition to its impressive size and 48” wingspan -- twice the length of the Sport Cub -- it features a lengthy, 9-plus minutes of flight time off a single charge, and an awesome range of 900 feet.

On top of these cool enhancements, it packs many of the same features as its younger sky-spanning sibling, like built-in safety mechanics, smooth controls, super-sturdy construction, and the ability to perform advanced maneuvers. If you're looking for a well-rounded set of wings, this one's got you covered.

Power-Up 3.0 Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane

Best For: Smartphone Pilots On A Budget

There's a number of things to love about this little plane, from its surprisingly solid construction and low price, to its innovative engineering, and imaginative design. Its absolute coolest feature though, is the fact it's piloted with an Apple or Android smartphone.

Using a free, user-friendly app, fliers can get this one off the ground and among the clouds in minutes. Despite being controlled with the same device you use to play Angry Birds, the Power-Up sports good range, a fantastic flight time, and the sort of responsiveness and handling you'd expect from a much pricier RC plane. And while it does require a bit of assembly, building it, like you would for a paper airplane, is part of the fun.

Whether you want to test the hobby's waters, er ,skies, do something more than tweet on your smartphone, or just amuse your cubicle buddies (outside on your lunch break, of course) with the coolest paper airplane ever, the Power-Up 3.0 is worth a look.

HobbyZone Stratocam RTF RC Airplane

Best For: The Pilot With A Flair For Photography

This slick looking ride takes a page from the drone playbook by including a built-in HD camera, making it a great pick for RC pilots, and aerial photographers alike. The simple-to-use 720p HD camera not only takes quality snaps from above, but also stores them to its SD card for easy sharing and editing on your PC back home.

The Stratocam's design also caters to photographers, as it's specifically constructed to favor casual, steady cruising perfect for picture-taking. So while you won't be able to perform any insane stunts with this one, you'll have no trouble grabbing some epic shots from above.

That's not to say, however, that it isn't packed with more traditional, flight-focused features. On the contrary, the Stratocam -- which also includes many of HobbyZone's aforementioned safety mechanics -- is a blast to tool around in, even when you're not using it to snap pretty pics from a bird's eye view.

HobbyZone F4U Corsair S BNF RC Airplane

Best For: World War II Pilot-Wannabes With A Bit More To Spend

The majority of RC planes favor technical innovation over cosmetic design, but this winged beauty takes both into account. Based on one of the Second World War's absolute fastest planes, the F4U Corsair is drenched in eye-catching details that make it as appropriate for display as it is for flight.

While it'd look pretty damn sweet sitting on a bookcase, this one's seat-of-the-pants speed and stunt-pulling ability is best served in the sky. Sturdy, agile, and responsive, this history-respecting beast is a blast to fly, whether you want to climb, dive, duck, and roll, or simply hit the sort of speeds that leave other models in the dust.

A great option for WWII history buffs and seasoned, speed-craving RC pilots alike, the F4U Corsair, while a bit pricier than other models, is as pretty as it is powerful.

HobbyZone Delta Ray RTF Airplane

Best For: Pilots With An Unquenchable Need For Speed

Lightning-quick and surprisingly easy to control, the Delta Ray is perfect for those looking for a high-performance RC plane. Whether pulling epic stunts, or achieving the sort of speeds Kenny Loggins writes songs about, this one's aimed more at adrenaline junkies than laid back pilots.

That said, its intuitive, responsive controls and built-in safety features make it accessible to rookie recruits with daredevil aspirations. Awesome range and fantastic flight time complement the Delta Ray's ability to soar fast and furious. Its impact-absorbing design will also help protect it from overconfident pilots who get a bit too brave behind the controls.